bulbo blooms

[kewpie]

how long do they last? is it variable from plant to plant? or are they all short-lived? thanks!

[LJA]

I've never grown one but, from my reading, they seem to be pretty short-lived. Maybe Sue, Jane, or Forrest can tell you with more authority.

[Paphraguy]

Yes, ditto to what Lja said.

[Forrest]

Its variable from plant to plant, and also species to hybrids. I dont know of any that last like Phals or Paphs, but there are some with a decent flower lifespan. longisimum lasts a few weeks to a month for example.

[kewpie]

thanks, everyone! im just trying to weigh pros and cons for getting one (or two). ive read that they can be sprawling growers, and if their flowers dont last that long, i dont think its gonna be worth the window space.

forrest - what do you think about the bulbo blumei? does it stay fairly compact?

[Jmoney]

I have one bulbo (lobbii) that bloomed a long time ago. I can't say for certain, but I don't remember it being that short-lived--at least 2-3 weeks if not more. Very pleasant fragrance too, and not big at all.

[Máire]

Of my Bulbos (lobbii, lobbii x leysianum, graveolens, guttulatum, sikkimense, macraei, brevistylidum, cornu-cervi and echinolabium) the only one that has a sprawling nature is the brevistylidum. So there *are* compact ones out there. You just have to do the research. Email the vendors for recommendations. That's what I did.

Just don't ask me about blooming them....lol. In my short *career* I've yet to bloom one. Otherwise I think they're the cutest things....

Máire

[Forrest]

I am not sure about blumei, as I dont have one. If memory serves however I do believe it is fairly compact, all of course depending on your definition of compact.